The ANC was under pressure also to accommodate the smaller parties in the GNU with Cabinet and deputy ministerial positions.
The DA wants 10 ministerial portfolios including appointing its leader John Steenhuisen as deputy president.The stand-off between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance over the opposition party’s demand for the crucial position of deputy president and to be in control of the vital economic clusters could get nasty as the ANC’s patience wears thin.
Talks between the two were headed for a deadlock after the DA upped the ante and demanded the deputy president position and some of the key economic cluster departments. The impasse was likely to delay the announcement of the GNU Cabinet.ANC sources say “the party would rather part ways with the DA than surrender to its demand” for deputy president Paul Mashatile to be fired, because demanding a position already occupied by a top ANC leader was tantamount to requesting his dismissal.
If the ANC were to accede, it would mean Mashatile’s dismissal or demotion to a ministerial position, which would fuel tensions within the ruling party.Another senior party member who is very close to President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear: “We can’t compromise Mashatile, the DA must forget that.
“Unfortunately, the junior politicians who get given that portfolio have no understanding of its role, and it was only the late Dr Essop Pahad who used it effectively, because he understood it.
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